Conflicting advice on getting a 34 week scan..what would you do?

Hi ladies,

At around 26 weeks pregnant I went and saw an ob thru my public hospital to get the all clear the for the midwifes clinic and he suggested that I get a 34 week growth scan due to my dd being 2530grams at 38.5(possibly 37 weeks and she was born healthy) My pregnancy has been low risk and fundal height is right on for dates each appointment. I am feeling and looking bigger this pregnancy too..

At 29 weeks I got accepted into the community midwifery program here in WA that does homebirths and the midwife said that a 34 week scan is really unecessary because it can cause undue worry/anxiety and the weights can be inaccurate. So here I have that appointment still booked for that scan next week with the other hospital wondering if I should still get it done to see how she is growing...What would you ladies do if you were in my shoes??

i wouldnt bother, every growth scan ive had has been 500gms + under what my bubs actually were. if you're happy and your carers are happy, then i wouldnt worry :)

Yep what Skybie said :)

Yeah I wouldn't have it done. I had one at 36 weeks with DS. He was born almost 1kg lighter 5 weeks later - go figure...

It would be awful to have the scan and then have your birth wishes compromised by something that is notoriously inaccurate. JMO.

No way I wouldn't get it! Just a reason to be worried about a big baby if that's what it says when they're very inaccurate anyway :)

Yep I'd do it - not for medical reasons because the weight cab be WAY off but I'd still do it so I can get a last chance glimpse and maybe a piccie of bub in the tummy. :D

If you think it would reassure you then do it, but weights at that gestation are very inaccurate and it might rule you ineligible for midwife led care even if at birth your bub is perfectly healthy. Good luck with your decision :)

Hey ladies, quick update for you. Had to go to the obs to get a check over to be cleared for the homebirth program and she measured me 3 weeks under for my weeks which is bizzare because last week at my midwife appointment I was spot on for dates??? So long story short she sent me for a scan there and then and the ultrasound said everything was fine and shes v healthy but aparently bubs isnt going to be a big baby and will be around 2.8-2.9kg born. From what I could see I was measuring a week behind on the scan. I feel like Ive failed being a good incubator again for the second time around :(

You haven't failed at all! Babies are born at all different weights. People always worry about their child being above or below the 50% percentile for weight/height etc, but I always tell them that the whole concept of percentiles means that about half babies are above "average" and about half are "below" average. Remember, there's no such thing as "off the chart" when it comes to percentiles. It's impossible ;)

Sounds like you just make babies on the smaller side. As long as bub is happy and healthy, then there's nothing to worry about.

Hmmm, I wouldn't mind a smaller baby this time around. I tend to make big babies that like to come early :)

What Mylitta said :) Who'd actually WANT a 10+ pounder! I'd be quite happy with a little bubby, but it aint going to happen, you can balance mine out :) A great friend of mine has had two perfectly formed little little girls. Enjoy the rest of your healthy pregnancy lovely lady.

That's a perfectly fine size baby. And it can be off anyway. All that scan really showed was that baby is healthy!

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I measured 2-3cm behind for most of this recent pregnancy, and went for a couple of growth scans just to make certain. Bub always measured to dates and was graphed around the 50th percentile. She was born on the weekend at 38+2 weighing 2.7kg. My DS was born at 39+2 weighing 3.1kg. Some people just aren't geared to make big babies

I wouldn't bother either. I had one - I don't think it was a growth scan as such, more the dr putting my mind at ease - but the sonographer said that they can be 500grams out either way.

Eta. Just read your update! You aren't a bad incubator, your babies come out healthy! What's bad about that!?